Safety razor motor structure



Feb. 23, 1932. A. A. GROTHE `SAFETY RAZOR MOTOR STRUCTURE -Filed Nov.18, 1929 Patented Feb. 23, 1932 AUNITED STATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR A. GROTHE, or oAx PARK, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon 'roWILLIAM I. CAMERON, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs SAFETY RAZOR MOTOR STRUCTUREApplication filed November 18, 1929. Serial No. 407,831.

1o but many of which have been objectionable because of certain inherentdefects. Some of the prior structures have been designed especially foruse with direct current, while others will function only with analternating current. The automatic safety razor which I have produced isadapted to be operated by either the direct or the alternating current.

In my present device I have provided elements that are operatedelectrically to set up a vibration within the handle of the razor so asto give a slight side-to-side movement to the latter and thereby imparta slight longitudinal movement to the cutting blade. While theseelements are necessarily of within the constricted interior of the razorhandle they are nevertheless sturdy and sim-- ple in construction, andthe arrangement thereof is such that the structure is so compact that itmay be readily stored within a handle of relatively small diameter. Fur-'thermore, the construction and arrangement of the actuating parts issuch that it is easy to insert them in or remove them from the handle.

I prefer to carry out my invention and to accomplish the objects thereofin substantially the manner hereinafter fully described, and as moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being hereinmade to the accompanying drawings that form a part of thisspecification. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing my improved electricallyoperated safety razor. 1

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal elevation showing the interior andthe arrangement of the parts, the casing or handle portion beinginsection.

small dimensions in order to house themV Figure 3 is a longitudinal Viewof the interior parts looking at the same from the side opposite that ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a View, also in longitudinal elevation, of the parts shownin Figures 2 and 3 and viewed at a right angle to said figures.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on -line 5 5 of Figure 3 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the base portion of the parts showingthe delayed break of one of the contacts.

Figure 7 is a detail view showing the method or system of wiring.

Figure 8 is a schematic lay-out of the electrical circuit and associatedmechanical parts.

The drawings are to be understood as being more or'less schematic forthe purpose of illustrating a typical or preferred form in which myinvention may be made, and in said drawings I have employed similarreference characters to designate like parts wherever the sameappear'throughout the several views.

The structure which I have devised comprises a hollow cylindrical-shapedhandle 10, the ends of which are closed by the bottom plug 11 and a topplug 12 that preferably screw into the ends of the handle. The top lplughas a conical-shaped cap 13 that surrounds a post (not shown), and uponthe outer end of the post within the cap 13 means are provided forreadily attaching and detaching the head of the razor. This headconsists of the guard`14 and the clamping member 15 between which adouble or twoedged razor-blade is secured by drawing t-he parts togetherwhich leXes the blade transversely in the manner of a well-known type ofsafety razor.

The hollow handle 10 provides a housing or casing that encloses theelectrical parts for operating the razor by causing a vibration which istransmitted to the head through the post that is rigid within the topplug 12. Imbedded in the top plug 12 are .two metal rods 16 and 17 thatare arranged parallel to each other and form the cores for the twowindings 18 and 19 respectively that surround said cores throughout thegreater p0rtion of the lengths of the latter, and in order to protectthese windings they are covered with a strip of paper or otherinsulating material and 21 as shown in Figure 2. At their ends oppositeJthe plug 12 the cores 16 and 17 enter recesses or sockets 22 and 23 thatare formed in the adjacent face of an insulating base 24 andare securedtherein by 1 the latheaded bolts or screws 25 and 26 that parallel withthe cores 16 and 17 is an armapass through the base in the manner shown.

vThe hollow wall l() and the plugs ll'and 12 ofthe housing or handle arepreferably made of a suitable insulating material and when the coils andbase are inserted into the handle the face of the base 24 will abuttheinner face of the lower plug 11. Also mounted upon the base 24 andextending longitudinally thus supporting the armature with its oppo siteend free to vibrate in the desired manner ashereinafter described.`r

The opposite or vibratory end of the armature 27 is slightly reduced andiattened as shown at 30 and its end nearest the plug 12 is bentsubstantially L-shaped to provide anarm 31 that extends laterallybetween the adjacent exposed portions or pole ends of the cores 16 and17 between the plug 12 and the adjacent ends of the wiring 18 and 19.

In its' vibratory movement the armature 27 has its lateral arm 31attracted toward the exposed portions'or lpoles of the cores 16 and 17but it is prevented from actually contacting with these poles by meansof small soft rubber buffers or stops 32y that are mounted in theirregular shaped brackets 33 that are secured to the opposite surfacesof the cores 16 and 17 respectively. rThe buers absorb a portion `of theshock incident to the attraction of the armature toward the poles orcores when said'armature is being vibrated, and as` said brackets andcores are/anchored upon the plug 12 adjacent thepost which carries thehead the vibrations` are thus transmitted to the post andhead and theyare caused to vibrate trans-axially. -The armature is adapted to freelyvibratey between the poles without contracting the same, and the buliersact as a cushion under extraordinary conditions should the vibratory'strokes of the armature inadvertently become lengthened and theythusabsorb both the shock and noise that would be incident to actualContact between 'the parts. Such vibratory movement is of coursetransmitted to the cutting edge of the razor blade, so that when therazor yis moved upon the flesh in the usual manner of operating a safetyrazor such vibratory movement will cause a sheering or slicing cut andthereby materially assist in theoperation of shaving. In other words theaction of the blade upon the individual hairs that are to be removed isthe well-known slide-stroke or oblique cut used b profes-d sionalbarbers and which is very e ective in the operation of shaving.

' `The current may bev from any suitable source of electrical supply andit is conveyed to the handle of the razor by a iexible conductor element34 the adjacent end of which is provided with a socket member 35 adaptedto be inserted into the central opening 36 made in the bottom plug l1 ofthe handle. Suitable terminals 37 and 38 are embodied in the plug andextend into the opening 364 with their ends back of the plane of theouter face of said plug, and coact with the counter-part portions of thesocket member 25 when the latter is in position. The inner portions ofthe terminals, which are preferably wire, are given L-shaped'bends 39 asseen at Fig. 4 and then pass out of the base 24 within the handle andadjacent the respective coils. v 4

Extending from the base 25preferably upon each side of the armature 27are stubs 39 and-46 the outer portions of which are reduced as at 41 and42 and at their ends they are provided with contacts 43 and 44respectively in the shape of small disks or blocks. These contactscooperate with similar opposing contacts 45 and 46 upon diametricallyopposite sides of the armature` 27 and said contacts 43 and 44 arenormally urged towards the armatureby the reduced portions 41 and 42which are of the Vyielding spring character. The contacts 43, 44, 45,and 46 are magnetized so that the pairs remain inv contact until one ofthe springs overcomes the magnetic force and moves one of a pair ofelements out of contact. rIhe spring 42 v for example is slightlystronger than spring 41 and when the armature 27 is moved in thedirectione to break the circuit between the contacts 44 and 46 theseblocks will hold to each other until the spring 42 overcomes themagnetic force and the contacts 44 and 46 will be separated causing adelayed break. When, however, the armature moves in the oppositedirection the two pairs of contacts remain in engagement.

What I claim is 1. A device of the kind described comprising a hollowhandle, a front plug and a rear plug closing and sealing said handle, apair of spaced electromagnet cores anchored on one of'said plugs andprovided with energizlng windings, a vibratory armature intermediate theaxial planes of said cores and having a spring end for supporting thesame, means on the free end of said.'- armature adapted to beattractedtowards the respective core pole ends when said cores areenergized whereby to vibrate said handle, and a tool post anchored insaid front plug independent of said cores and armature and vibratedsolely by said handle.

2. A device of the kind described comprising a hollow handle, front andrear plugs closing and sealing the ends thereof, a pair of spacedelectromagnet cores anchored on one of said plugs and provided withenergizing windings, an insulating basato which the opposite ends ofsaid cores are secured, a vibratory armature intermediate the axialplanes of said cores and one end of which is attracted towards the poleends of the cores when the latter are energized whereby to vibrate saidhandle, a spring connecting the opposite end of said armature to saidbase, and a tool post anchored in said front plug independent of saidcores and armature and vibrated solely by said handle.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a hollow handle, front andrear plugs closing the ends thereof, a pair of spaced electromagnetcores anchored on said front plug and provided with energizing windings,a vibratory armature intermediate the axial planes of said cores andanchored at its end opposite the anchored ends of said cores whereby tovibrate said handle, buffers on the pole ends of said cores adapted tobe struck by said armature when the latter is vibrated, and a tool postanchored in said front plug and. vibrated solely by said handle.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a hollow handle,electromagnet cores mounted therein, and provided with energizingwindings, a vibratory armature c0- acting with the pole ends of saidcores, spring contacts upon opposite sides of said armature, one of saidcontacts being magnetized whereby to cause a delayed break in a circuitpassing therethrough, and means for mounting a tool upon an end of saidhandle.

5. A device of the kind described comprising a hollow handleelectromagnet mechanism within said handle and including animpactlessfreely vibrating armature, yieldable spring contacts normally engagedwith said armature, one of said contacts being magnetized whereby tocause a delayed break in a circuit passing therethrough, andmeans formounting a tool upon an end of said handle.

6. A device of the kind described com rising a suitable,support, aremovable ront head therefor, a base in the other` end of said support,a pair of cores extending b etween said head and base andanchored onsaid head to permit removal from -the support with the head and base,energizing windings on said cores, an armature having a portion freelyvibratory between the pole ends of sai-d cores adjacent the head, aspring supporting said armaturefrom said base, said spring havingsuliicient tension to retard the vibratory movement of said armature,and mea-ns for securing a tool to the front head whereby a tool mountedin said means is subject to the vibratory movement of the structure.

7. A device of the kind described comfprising a suitable support, aremovable head therefor, a base in the other end of said support, a pairof cores extending between said head and base and anchored on said headand base, energizing windings on said cores, buffers on the pole ends ofsaid cores, Va yieldably mounted armature carried by said base andfreely vibratory between said buffers when the pole ends of said coresare energized, the yieldability of said armature being suiicient toprevent impacting any adjacent structure whereby to vibrate said supportand parts carried thereby, and means for securing a tool to the fronthead whereby a tool mounted in said means 'is subJect to the vibratorymovement of the support.

Signed at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois,-

the 22nd day of August, 1929.

ARTHUR A. GROTHE.

ro'nt ius

